Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

Temple Shir Shalom, Oviedo, will officially install Cantor Kim Singer as its spiritual leader in a Shabbat celebration on Friday, April 15, at 7:30 p.m. Cantor Singer started as the spiritual leader of Temple Shir Shalom in late June.

The installation ceremony and Shabbat service are free and open to the public, and will take place in the EPIC Center at University Carillon United Methodist Church. The service will be followed by a celebratory reception.

Cantor Singer is a native of Seattle, WA, and holds a bachelor's degree in Drama from the University of Washington. She has served a number of congregations in Washington, Florida and Massachusetts over the past 20+ years. Her Cantorial Ordination, Masters of Jewish Education and Certificate in Family Education are from Hebrew College. In 2010 she was awarded the title of Reform Jewish Educator (RJE), which recognizes excellence in synagogue education within the Reform movement.

Cantor Singer has been active in the Guild of Temple Musicians and the Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education, serving in positions at the national level in both organizations. She has taught and performed at national Jewish education and cantorial conferences.

Before embarking on her career in Jewish music and education in the late 1980s, Kim was a founding member of World Mother Goose Children's Theater in the Seattle area. Indeed, it was this experience that led to her being tapped to fill a vacancy in a first grade religious school classroom, setting the stage for her decision to enter the cantorate.

Cantor Singer has made good use of her theater background writing Purim Shpiels and conducting Tot Shabbat services with a precocious brown bear named Kimbu. She has directed volunteer and professional synagogue choirs and bands. She is also an accomplished composer, whose work ranges from original children's music to pieces for choir, organ and flute, and often incorporates melodies from traditional nusach and cantillation.

Since coming to Oviedo, Cantor Singer has represented Temple Shir Shalom at the regional meeting of AIPAC and has increased the Temple's visibility in the greater Orlando Jewish community by co-leading the Jewish National Fund's women's Tu Bishvat Seder held at Congregation Ohev Shalom and by applying for and receiving a grant from the Jewish Federation for youth programs teaching how to put Jewish values into action.